I'm calling it right now! Any Lowcountry bride-to-be will go weak in the knees when they see this classic engagement session from Charleston wedding photographer, Diana Deaver Weddings. It's got everything we love: an adorable Southern couple, a long dock that leads to the water, beautiful marsh views, and I would bet the smell of saltwater and that Lowcountry breeze :) Heaven. On. Earth. Ashley + Alex look so relaxed and in their element, and who wouldn't be in the dreamy setting.
Charleston Wedding {Jess + James}
It's so easy to get caught up in the fabulous-ness of pinterest, magazines and blogs when planning your Charleston wedding. They're all brimming with luscious details and tons of ideas but it's important to stay true to yourself and make sure your wedding truly reflects you as couple. When I first laid eyes on Jess + James' Charleston wedding, my first thought was, 'These two did it right!' Mackenzie, of The Click Chick Photography, was on hand to capture the entire day and was kind enough to share all the darling details...
"A taco truck, a historic synagogue, and pie, oh my! Jess & James wedding at the historic Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim was a true Charleston original. The location in downtown Charleston, SC lies in between King and Meeting Streets right across from posh Charleston Place hotel. The Taco Boy food truck greeted guests as they arrived to Passed Hors d'Oeurves by Hamby Catering in the courtyard of KKBE pre-ceremony. A traditional Jewish ceremony followed, with both Jess & James escorted down the aisle by their parents to the chuppah, which was made from a family quilt. Jess wore a silk J.Crew fucshia dress for the ceremony that was accented by a custom fascinator by Magar Hatworks. Post-ceremony the couple enjoyed some tacos privately during the yichud tradition, the Jess made a wardrobe change into another J.Crew stunner, this time in melon chiffon. Beer and margaritas flowed during the reception to compliment the three types of tacos and chips and guac. The cheery tables were decorated with 'stache-graced straws, flowers made from maps (a nod to James's travels in the Navy- he also wore custom cuff links and tie clips bearing a map of Charleston), billy buttons in pink and melon-hued glass jars, and challah. Sugar Bakeshop filled the dessert table not with wedding cake, but pies of every flavor and cookie jars filled with yummy flavors like molasses and oatmeal cranberry. Jess & James' wedding was the perfect going away party for their move to Hawaii, and summed up their personality as a couple to a tee."
Photographer: The Click Chick Photography / Caterer: Hamby Catering & Events / Dress Designer: J.Crew / Cake Designer: Sugar Bakeshop / Event Venue: Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
Southern Wedding {Kait + Ian}
Kait + Ian's Virginia Wedding comes to us from one of our favorite Southern wedding vendors, Grant and Deb Photographers. With the help of Simply Perfect Events, the couple wed at the stunning Hermitage Museum and Gardens this past September. Even though the weather didn't cooperate, the couple and their bridal party grabbed their umbrellas and rain boots and made sure not to let a little rain ruin their day! You'll love every ounce of this darling, Southern wedding and their sweet vintage wedding details.
Southern Wedding Vendors
Photographers: Grant and Deb Photographers / Caterer: East Beach Catering / Event Planner: Simply Perfect Events / Event Designer: Distinctive Event Rentals / Dress Store: Pure English Couture Bridal / DJ: Arch Entertainment Company / Makeup Artist: Kristal Lane Beauty on Location / Transportation: Bay Breeze Limousine / Bakery: Incredible Edibles Bakery / Museum: Hermitage Museum & Gardens
Charleston Bride {Brittani}
She's baaack! The soon-to-be Mrs. Brittani Croft is back to share more of her Charleston wedding planning journey and this time it's all about beauty, bridals and bachelorette par-tays!
Hey ALW! I feel like it’s been forever, and that’s probably because time is flying and we are getting SO close to our big day! It’s all about the little details now and we are really busting our butts to stay organized, enjoy this time, but make sure we are accomplishing lots of the important last minute critical things.
First though, let’s start with some of the latest fun stuff! A few weeks ago, I had my hair and makeup trial and it was really awesome to get an idea of what I’ll look like on our wedding day. Bellezza Salon and Spa in West Ashley will be doing hair and makeup for my bridesmaids and I, so it was really important to make sure that I knew what I wanted so that the morning of the wedding I wouldn’t be stressing about how exactly my hair and makeup would end up looking.
I’m not a huge makeup kind of girl, so we are keeping it relatively simple there since I really want to still look like myself. For my hair, I was torn between having a half up/half down look, but with the chance of it being stormy and/or outrageously hot in September, my stylist and I decided a low updo would be better and a lot less risky. Here are a few images I used for inspiration…
My hair and makeup came out fabulously and I really felt like a bride. If you’re wondering if a trial is worth it, I definitely vote yes!
So not to let my hair and makeup go to waste, I decided to also have bridals done that evening. As a photographer myself, I shoot often with the amazing Charleston wedding photographer Paige Winn, of Paige Winn Photo. You’ve probably seen some of her awesome work here on ALW! Paige met my mom and I at Boone Hall and we worked quick so as to dodge the looming showers and get some great bridal portraits. I even had my portrait bouquet with me that Beth and WildFlowers Inc. put together so it was really such an awesome little test run. I looooove my dress, but I think I need to practice moving around in it a little more!
Another really fun pre-wedding festivity is the bachelor/bachelorette party or weekend. Since Dustin is from South Carolina but I’m from Maryland, many of my closest friends are still up north. We decided to make it a co-bachelor/bachelorette weekend and meet halfway in Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach, NC. This ended up being SO much fun and honestly the best part was seeing all of our friends and their significant others meet (most for the first time) and absolutely hit it off so well! The weather didn’t cooperate for the beach, but we were able to have such an awesome time going to dinner, seeing The Campaign (we love some Will Ferrell), mini golf, and check out some of the really fun bars in downtown Wilmington. It was a total success and since many of us shared rooms at a hotel right between downtown and the beach, we were able to keep the costs manageable.
So what’s next? It’s all about planning our ceremony, DIY projects, creative favors, buying/making gifts for our wedding party, and those other fun details. I’m so thankful our friends and family have been so helpful
Folly Beach Wedding {Caroline + {Philip}
Who's ready for a coastal, Charleston wedding from the talented Reese Moore Photography?! Well, you're in luck, because we've got a beauty for you! Caroline + Philip tied the knot on the shores of Folly Beach in an outdoor ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends. Caroline dazzled in a stunning gown with a back that I just can't get enough of, while the men looked dapper in black. After saying their vows, the couple took a moment for some intimate shots down by the water before joining their guests for a lively reception with adorable, personalized details.
Southern Weddings {Save the Dates}
I thought about whipping up a whole post discussing the do's and don'ts of Save the Dates, but then I figured I should leave it to Charleston wedding stationer-extraordinaire, Scotti Cline Designs! Located in Charleston, Scotti assists Lowcountry brides in creating all of their swoon-worthy wedding paper needs and, lucky for us, she's sharing a few must-read pointers on creating personal and informative Save the Dates!
"It's hard for me to write about why I think save the dates are important because my OWN MOTHER thinks they're silly. She's a little old fashioned about these sort of things but having been in the wedding industry for going on 5 years now, I think they have earned their place and aren't going anywhere. In a time when there is rarely a "hometown" wedding and destination weddings have become more popular and accessible, it's important to make traveling fun and as easy as possible for your guests. A save the date informs guests of all the pertinent information and hopefully you can convey some excitement about the wedding and their destination with the design of the save the date. That's where I come in..."
"I usually recommend brides include accommodation information and their expiration dates for room blocks in addition to their wedding website. Particularly for Charleston weddings, hotels book quickly and many guests don't understand that the room blocks do not guarantee they can book a room the week before the wedding. Guests may not even visit your website until after the room blocks have expired."
"For send out, I highly recommend sending out in the 6-8 month window. Yes, even for destination brides. Unless you have a large number of guests traveling internationally, none of your guests will be making travel plans any earlier than that. I understand brides are excited to share a first glimpse of their wedding with family and friends but sending out a year in advance is overkill. It will also make you want to send your invitations out unnecessarily earlier which will really diminish your RSVP return."
" Also, a word to the wise for European save the date recipients, always include the wording "formal invitation to follow". Save the dates are understood in the United States without that wording but if you don't include it for Europeans, you will be receiving some very strange phone calls about how to RSVP to the "invitation". Not kidding."
"For save the date design, there are so many wildly different options out there I would never go as far as suggesting what someone "should" do. I only suggest you should make yourself happy. Save the dates have a little more room to be fun because they are not as traditional as the invitation. I have some brides who come up with some really interesting ideas (I'll begrudgingly admit it's always the brides who have the best ideas, not me). Incorporating your destination, as many of my Charleston brides do, is a great way to get people excited about traveling there. I've done a ton of oak tree and iron gates for Charleston because it is such an iconic look for the city and very Southern."
"I'm personally not a huge fan of photo save the dates strictly because I don't want to put the picture of you almost making out my fridge to see every morning before coffee and I kinda doubt people who know you do either. I've received and done some photo save the dates that are awesome though. I had a bride this year who included a photo booth strip tied to her save the date which incorporated an oak tree and a pattern that we will carry into the invitation. This way, the picture didn't dominate the save the date and we had plenty of room for design and information (and who doesn't love a good photo booth strip?). I recently received a photo save the date of my friends holding up signs (with their wedding date) like they were taking mug shots (he's a detective) and I laugh every time I look at it, it's great. I think that's the perfect save the date, make it about you and make your guests smile."
Downtown Charleston {Megan + Jay}
If you're anything like me, you've been hoping that the long, Labor Day Weekend would never end, but if we must get back to work, then we might as well get things started right with a classic Charleston wedding engagement session and a big helping of beautiful photography from Dana Cubbage Weddings! The charming couple, Megan + Jay, met up with Dana one Spring evening for a casual stroll South of Broad that started at Battery Park. With the Holy City as the backdrop, the combination of perfect lighting and timeless attire are sure to have Megan + Jay's guests anxiously awaiting their upcoming Lowcountry wedding!
Southern Coastal Wedding {Lyndsey + Scott}
To bid the summer adieu, we're going to head into the holiday weekend with a laid back, Southern wedding of the North Carolina coast. Lyndsey + Scott tied the knot with teir toes in the sand and the breeze in their hair as one of our favorites, Carolina Studios by Gillian Reinhardt, was there to capture the entire beautiful day! Are those bouquets from Fiore Fine Flowers not to die for?
Southern Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Carolina Studios by Gillian Reinhardt / Hair Stylist: Kozo Hair Designs & Spa / Caterer: Art Catering / Floral Designer: Fiore Fine Flowers / Cinema and Video: Hart to Heart Media / Dress Store: Bridals by Lori / Cake Designer: Cakes by the Sea / DJ: Scott Shaw Productions - DJ Entertainment / Transportation: Wilmington Trolley Company
DeBordieu Club Wedding {Liz + Andrew}
You can't go wrong with a Lowcountry wedding at the Debordieu Club, photographed by Carolina Photosmith, and designed by Della Ramsey. As if that weren't enough, add in flowers by Blossoms Events and you've got a heavenly mix of South Carolina's most-sought after wedding vendors for Liz + Andrew's preppy, Southern wedding. Liz was breathtaking in a delicate, one-shoulder, lace Ulla-Maija gown that perfectly complimented Andrew's suit and classic bow tie. The entire event was outfitted with a vibrant, citrus palette that allowed for fun pops of color and effortlessly, chic details.
Photographer: Carolina Photosmith / Hair Stylist: Stox & Co. Salon & Day Spa / Event Planner: Della Ramsey Weddings / Floral Designer: Blossoms Events / Reception Venue: DeBordieu Club / Band: East Coast Entertainment
Dunes West Golf Club Wedding {Lane + Michael}
It's no secret that all of us love a good Lowcountry wedding, and when a handful of talented Charleston wedding vendors are involved, it makes it that much sweeter! Richard Bell Photography was behind the lens as Lane + Michael said 'I do' on the lawns of Dunes West Golf Club. Ashley Nicole Events was on hand to handle all of the details, while Sara York Grimshaw Designs set the mood with her stunning florals. Thanks to Lane for giving us a little insight into her fabulous Charleston wedding... A. When Michael and I began planning our wedding, we didn't really have a clue of what we wanted...but what we DID know was that we wanted it to be a "southern style" wedding that would make all of our guest feel "at home" and leave Dunes West having a great meal and enjoy dancing to some classic hits! Most of our guest were from Georgia and South Carolina and LOVE southern, family traditions. Pulled Pork/Collard Green Eggrolls and Sweet Tea...can't get much more southern than that! As a little girl I can remember my grandparents would ALWAYS drink tea out of mason jars and also store jams. This family tradition, along with Pinterest, gave us this unique idea. Pinterest has been an AMAZING resource for wedding planning! We decided to go with blues and coral/orange color scheme. Michael LOVES Clemson football and bowties...so we "tied" those two together! One last REALLY cool thing we did is a "Late Night Donut" stand with shot glasses of milk! We felt that our guest would enjoy this yummy surprise after dancing all night!
Photographer: Richard Bell Photography / Hair Stylist: Vanity Salon / Event Planner: Ashley Nicole Events / Floral Designer: sara york grimshaw designs / Musicians: Palmetto Strings / Dress Store: Bridal House of Charleston / Band: Still Cruzin' / Venue Location: Dunes West Golf Club
Fabulous Frocks + Happily Ever BorroWED
The gals of Happily Ever BorroWED made a trip to Charleston to show off their delicate bridal pieces for a weekend trunk show of fun at Fabulous Frocks! While Lowcountry brides were on the hunt for their dream Southern wedding dress and perfect accessories, Fabulous Frocks made sure they received the complete wedding experience. They ooh-ed and ahh-ed over romantic floral arrangements from Ooh! Events, and indulged in heavenly treats from the crew at Cupcake. Thank goodness Britt Croft Photography was there so we can all relive the fabulous swanky details...
Southern Engagement {Katy + Jordan}
Katy + Jordan's southern engagement session from Hiram Trillo Photography gets me excited for cooler weather and the Fall! Not only am I smitten with the gorgeous, natural light and perfect photography, but I'm absolutely loving the sweet couples spot-on attire choices. Classic, timeless and chic.
Island House Wedding {Natalie + Matt}
The Island House is slowly becoming one of my favorite Charleston wedding venues. It's the epitome of all things Lowcountry. It has a view that you just can't beat, and it's perfect location never fails to provide some killer sunsets, which always sets the mood for receptions that make me wish I was there! University of Georgia grads, Natalie + Matt, tied the knot along the banks of the Stono River this past Spring in front of their dearest family and friends, and lucky for us, Studio 1250 Photography was there to capture the venue, the details and this adorable couple and their lively, Charleston wedding!
Charleston Wedding Vendors
Photography: Studio 1250 Photography / Event Planning: Elizabeth Grace Occasions Catering: Saigon Catering / Florist: WildFlowers, Inc. / Entertainment: The Music Maker
Southern Engagement {Katie + Nick}
I just love when our Lowcountry brides personally send over their engagement sessions and weddings for us to share! It's always fun to finally put a face with an email address. Beautiful bride-to-be Katie is in full on planning mode for her Hilton Head Wedding next year. She's assembled a fabulous team of vendors for her big ol' Southern wedding and I just can't wait to see everything come together. So, to hold us over until the big day, Katie sent over her classic, Washington D.C. engagement session with fiance Nick along the Georgetown Waterfront...aren't they adorable?
Brittani {Vendors}
Brittani, of Britt Croft Photography, is back, and this time, the bride-to-be is giving us some fabulous tips to keep in mind when picking your Lowcountry vendors... Hey ALW readers! I’m back again, this time spilling on some of our vendor choices. Hiring quality vendors is SO important. You really want to work with people that truly care about how important this day is in your life and respect and appreciate your business and budget.
When choosing vendors…
- Don’t be afraid to meet with a few different vendors in each category that you are looking for. I felt kind of bad about doing this…like I was sneaky and price shopping. But as a bride, it’s your prerogative to ensure you’re finding the best fit for you. Just be honest if anyone asks, and make sure you are polite and kind about it. I knew what kind of food we wanted for our wedding (good ‘ole down home country cooking!), so I inquired with three or four caterers in the beginning. Surprisingly enough, one got back to me immediately, two took weeks to get back to me, and one never did. Obviously that says a lot, and if I had only inquired with one and thought that was the normal wait time for inquiries, I may have hired a company that wouldn’t pay my wedding food much attention. Regardless, it’s always good to meet with several different options to get a feel for who will be a best fit for your type of wedding, your personality, and your budget.
- Try to meet in person. Getting a feel for someone in person can be totally different over email or the phone. How do they dress? Are they timely? Are they polite? Do they come prepared and organized? Are they enthusiastic or overbearing? These things may seem silly, but they say a lot about how this person will be on the day of your wedding. Will they be presentable and professional? On time and polite to your guests? This is hugely important!
- Ask to see examples of their work, reviews from past brides, or a taste test. This may seem like common sense, but its crazy how many brides skip on the little things. Tasting the food beforehand or hearing about what past brides felt about the planner you are sitting down with can make a big difference in how your wedding day flows.
- Who have your friends used? Ask around to your married friends and find out what vendors they used and loved or wouldn’t recommend. What’s better than hearing it straight from someone who has experienced a service previously?
So who have we chosen to work with for our wedding? Remember are getting married at The Pavilion at Pepper Plantation, so almost all of our vendors are located in the greater Charleston area.
- Photographer: Katelyn James, Richmond, VA
- Caterer: The Crazy Dutchman, Charleston
- Florist: WildFlowers, Inc., Summerville
- Cake and Cupcakes: Publix in Mt. Pleasant (Don’t judge – I will be writing more about this later!)
- Rentals: Group Dynamics, Charleston
- Hair and Makeup: Bellezza Salon & Spa, Charleston
- DJ: The Party Music, Roy Palmgren, Charleston
Who have you chosen to work with for your big day? What were some of your challenges choosing or finding vendors that fit your vision? Leave a comment and let me know – I’d love to hear!
Old Wide Awake Plantation {Lauren + Garrett}
Lauren + Garrett tied the knot this June, just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, at the beautiful, Old Wide Awake Plantation. While creating their Lowcountry wedding, the couple wanted to reflect their Southern roots, strong family bonds and modern vintage style...and thanks to Richard Bell Photography, we get to see every last detail! Lauren prepped for the day in a monogrammed button up, before her and her maids threw on their cowboy boots and gowns. As an ode to the bride and groom, guests were gifted navy croakies to honor their Tennessee and South Carolina heritage. The rustic reception was accented to perfection with navy and burlap decor, while guests dined on shrimp and grits and a slew of other Lowcountry treats.
Kate + Randy's Boone Hall Plantation Engagement by Reese Moore Photography
A Lowcountry Wedding Vendors!
Some of you may have noticed that A Lowcountry Wedding is in the process of welcoming a new addition to our site, and we couldn’t be more excited. We are thrilled to FINALLY introduce all of our fabulous, Southern brides to the insanely, talented wedding vendors that call the coast of South Carolina home. You’ll find we’ve divided things up into vendor categories, and even broken it down to different cities, so you’ll be able to locate approved A Lowcountry Wedding vendors in Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach (perfect, right?).
Well, while we work on finalizing some details behind the scenes, we’ve decided it’s time for a contest! To thank all of our vendor friends that have been overly supportive, this week we’ll be giving away one free vendor listing. The listing will include a complete description of your company, contact info and even a photo gallery to show off your work right here on A Lowcountry Wedding! To enter, it’s simple, if you don’t already, ‘like’ us on facebook and then, share this post. Easy, huh? We’ll announce the winner Friday, August 31st! Good luck and thank you for your support!
If you’re interested in becoming A Lowcountry Wedding Vendor, shoot us an email at hello{at}alowcountrywed.com for an application, pricing and our stats!
Charleston Weddings {Chelsea + Hunter}
This charming, Charleston wedding boasts an adorable color palette of red, white and blue, breathtaking views of the South Carolina Lowcountry and a Southern bride with impeccable taste. Everything you could possibly ask for, right? The sweet couple were married on a family friend’s plantation in Awendaw, where Bride Chelsea dazzled in a beautiful gown that featured a flattering, ruffled neckline. The bridesmaids donned blue gowns and sassy, red shoes, while the dapper gentleman rocked tan suits and bowties. Combining the classic, Southern attire of the bridal party with the picturesque backdrop of this stunning South Carolina plantation, and you’re bound to fall in love with every detail of this Charleston wedding from Diana Deaver Photography!
Southern Weddings {Groom's Attire}
Don't you love a good-looking, Southern gentleman dressed to the nines? You don't have to answer, I already know you're shaking your head 'yes'! Luckily, our Lowcountry grooms sure know how to add their classic, Southern style to their wedding day, and this round up of our favorites will show you how the men of South Carolina do it best! In Hilton Head, you'll find the boys draped in seersucker. At a Charleston wedding, they'll be rocking classic, black tuxedos, and the men in Myrtle Beach are fans of a tan suits and preppy bowties! So tell us, what will your dapper dudes be wearing?
